Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
There was a servant around 16 or 17 years old beside Huang Yanchen. She wore a pale yellow dress and her little face was extraordinarily delicate.
She studied Zhang Ruochen with a pair of curious eyes.
Zhang Ruochen also noticed the servant beside Huang Yanchen. She was only around five feet tall. She had a pair of pointed ears, silver hair, a thin waist, and spirited eyes. Her skin looked translucent, like shimmering jade.
She was completely different from other servants. She had a special aura that gave off an extraordinary feeling.
“Your servant seems to have very high cultivation.”
Zhang Ruochen studied her carefully with a faint smile.
Clad in the pale yellow dress, the servant looked shy and embarrassed. She hid behind Huang Yanchen instinctively.
“She’s a servant that the Chen Family gave me,” Huang Yanchen said. “Her name is Qing Mo. Her physique is very special and has high potential too. Her only flaw is that she hasn’t interacted with the outer world much and lacks experience.”
Huang Yanchen was now an Heir and the Empress’ disciple. The Chen Family in the Eastern Region obviously treated her differently.
The servant they gifted her wasn’t an ordinary Monk either.
“Qing Mo greets Lord Zhang.” The servant walked out and bowed to Zhang Ruochen.
Huang Yanchen and Zhang Ruochen walked side by side. The woman was beautiful while the man was handsome. They stepped on the snow and walked down the street, attracting many shocked gazes.
A beat later, Huang Yanchen finally spoke. “I heard much news about you after coming to the Sacred City. They said that you killed five generals of the Canglong Army. There are also rumors that you’re the Crown Prince of the Sacred Central Empire from 800 years ago.”
“Do you want an explanation?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
There were deep genuine emotions in Huang Yanchen’s blue eyes. “I only care about your safety. I don’t wish for anything to happen to you.”
“I am indeed the Crown Prince,” Zhang Ruochen said honestly. “I was the last crown prince of the Sacred Central Empire 800 years ago.”
Not only were Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen married in name, they’d also done it already. He felt like he shouldn’t keep some things a secret.
“You don’t seem shocked.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Huang Yanchen. Her expression was calm and devoid of any surprise.
“I’d gone specifically to investigate the Crown Prince and had some guesses long ago,” Huang Yanchen said. “I didn’t ask before because I knew that you’d tell me at the right time.”
After cultivating for 15 years in the Tianlun Mark, her mindset has improved greatly. Zhang Ruochen could sense this fact clearly.
Smiling, Zhang Ruochen asked, “Since you know my identity now, do you plan on being on my side or Empress Chi Yao’s side?”
When he said this, he was also telling Huang Yanchen clearly that he and Empress Chi Yao were on two opposite sides.
One was a criminal wanted by the imperial court. One was a disciple of the Empress. However, they just had to be a couple. Even Zhang Ruochen didn’t know how they could continue down this path.
Huang Yanchen stopped walking and stared at Zhang Ruochen. “I’ll forever be on your side. This won’t change no matter what happens.”
She’d clearly made a great decision and would sacrifice a lot for this. From now on, she would have to withstand pressures from all sides with Zhang Ruochen. The entire world would be her enemy.
Huang Yanchen’s expression turned serious. “There’s something else. Chi Wansui has returned to the Sacred City. If you go against the Lingxiao Heavenly Mansion and Canglong Army again, you must be extra careful.”
“Today’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s not talk about killing,” Zhang Ruochen said, chuckling. “It’s so hard for us to reunite. How about we find a place and drink together?”
“Sure!” Huang Yanchen thought carefully and said, “I heard that there’s a Kongyue Mountain outside the Sacred City. There’s an ancient tower at the mountaintop. It has 74 levels and thousands of years of history. Today is New Year’s Eve. The Sacred City must be very lively. If we stand at the top of the tower, we should be able to see all the city lights.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes turned dazed. He thought of Chi Yao from 800 years ago.
When he was 16 years old, Chi Yao had also said that she wanted to see all the lights of the Sacred City. Thus, Zhang Ruochen had brought her to Kongyue Mountain and stayed at the top of the tower for the entire night.
“What’s wrong?” Huang Yanchen asked after seeing that Zhang Ruochen was dazed.
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath and squeezed out a smile. Shaking his head, he said, “Nothing. I just thought of some things that I shouldn’t think about. Let’s go to Kongyue Mountain now.”
Instead of flying, Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen walked to the top of Kongyue Mountain.
After that, Zhang Ruochen released the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit and Demon Ape. He had them stand guard outside the tower and not let any Monks enter.
“Lord Chen, don’t worry,” the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit said, patting its stomach. “I will definitely guard the mountain seriously. No one will be able to take a step in.”
By the time Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen made it to the top, the sky had already darkened.
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There was a sea of stars in the sky. There was a sea of lights below it too.
Like a little girl, Huang Yanchen rested her porcelain-like face against Zhang Ruochen’s chest. “It’s so quiet here and the view is beautiful. If only it could be like this forever.”
“I also thought like this 800 years ago.” Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were sharp. “However, even if the tree wants to stay still, the wind won’t stop. It’s not easy to find peace and quiet.”
“Yes!” Huang Yanchen nodded. Her glossy lips moved as she said, “The dead souls in the east, the Death Zen Sect in the south, the Immortal Vampires in the north… There are signs of chaos all over Kunlun’s Field. No one can enjoy peace alone.”
“Brother Chen, I think you should gather the old members and establish a clan first, then become a powerful force in one area. When the time comes, take over the Empress’ world and re-establish the Sacred Central Empire.”
Zhang Ruochen caressed Huang Yanchen’s beautiful face. He shook his head and chuckled. “Eight hundred years have already passed. There are those who are still loyal to the Sacred Central Empire, but there are more calculative people.”
“With my current cultivation, I can’t control them yet. Once I call them back, I may be taken advantage of. They would use me as their puppet. The thing I need to do now is to raise my own cultivation.
“When I’m strong enough, people will come and submit to me even without my status as the Crown Prince.”
Zhang Ruochen had always thought that he could only be strong if he himself was strong. If he borrowed help, there would always be many hidden threats.
He rarely revealed his worries, but tonight was a special day. The woman beside him was also very close to him. It wasn’t that big of a deal to say the things he was thinking.
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen stopped discussing the world. Instead, they talked about their recent experiences.
Zhang Ruochen also asked about his mother. After learning that she was alright, he was relieved.
The night grew darker. The snow came down harder too.
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen shared a flagon of wine and rested against each other. Rather than cold, there was ineffable warmth.
Half-sober and half-drunk, Kong Lanyou’s image flashed across Zhang Ruochen’s mind.
Tonight was New Year’s Eve. Was she still at the Royal Tombs? Was she alone? Was she feeling lonely?
“Yanchen, I need to bring you somewhere.”
Zhang Ruochen picked up the half-asleep Huang Yanchen, but his eyes were pointed in the direction of the Royal Tombs. No matter how Kong Lanyou treated him, she was still his cousin. As the elder one, shouldn’t Zhang Ruochen be more generous?
Some things had to be faced.
“Where are we going?” Huang Yanchen asked sleepily.
There was no coldness about her now. She was like a dazed teenager, following Zhang Ruochen down the tower.
“You’ll understand after we get there,” Zhang Ruochen said.
When they reached the bottom of the tower, Zhang Ruochen smelled a peculiar scent of meat. The fragrance had surpassed the level of delicious.
Crackle, pop.
In the distance, there was a huge bonfire. The servant called Qing Mo was roasting a seven-meter-long beast. The meat had already become golden and the enticing smell covered the entire Kongyue Mountain.
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit and Demon Ape still had a bit of a demon’s Qi. They sprawled behind Qing Mo and drooled like hungry kittens.
“Sister Qing Mo, how much longer will it take?” The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit was so hungry that it was about to go crazy. Its eyes were bloodshot and it dug two ditches by pawing on the ground.
The Demon Ape also stared at Qing Mo pleadingly.
Qing Mo pursed her lips with a bit of disdain and said, “You two eat so much. You’ve already eaten four beasts and you’re still hungry? Especially you, Guoguo. You’re so tiny. How can you eat so much meat?”
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit rubbed its chubby cheeks against Qing Mo’s side. “It’s because Sister Qing Mo’s barbeque meat is the best. You’re on a whole other level than Lord Blackie and Lord Chen’s cooking skills.”
Qing Mo tapped the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit’s head. “Alright, it’s done. You can eat now!”
Zhang Ruochen walked over to try some of the meat that Qing Mo had cooked. The fragrance was extremely tantalizing. Even though Zhang Ruochen didn’t have to eat food anymore, he still couldn’t resist it.
However, as soon as Qing Mo spoke, the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit and Demon Ape pounced and upended the bonfire. They fought each other and devoured crazily. An instant later, the huge beast was completely gone. Not even a single bone remained.
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit patted its round stomach. “Sister Qing Mo, you really have talented hands. Not only is the meat you cook delicious, it’s also like spiritual medicine and can improve cultivation.”
Qing Mo couldn’t stand how greedy the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit was acting. She covered her smile with a hand and suddenly saw Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen below the tower. She immediately rose to bow. “Greetings, Princess and Lord Zhang.”
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit and Demon Ape were worried that Zhang Ruochen would berate them, so they pretended like nothing had happened. Immediately straightening, they got up and left. They started patrolling the mountain with menacing expressions.
“Lord Chen told me to patrol the mountain,” the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit sang as it walked. “After patrolling the east mountain, I’ll patrol the west.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and sighed. Blackie had influenced the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit and Demon Ape too much. They were more and more unreliable.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen didn’t berate them. He took Huang Yanchen, Qing Mo, the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit, and Demon Ape away from Kongyue Mountain and toward the Royal Tombs.